Electric switching mechanism



June 3, 1930. H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC swITcHING MEGHANISM Filed Feb. e, 1926 ma@ Y. Y

Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES HARRY A... DOUGLAS, F BBONSON, MICHIGAN ELECTRIC BWITGHING IECHANISM Application mea rebruarye, 1928. serial No. 252,283.

My invention relates to electric switching mechanism employing a rotatable and reciprocable contact .actuating member or rod whereby one circuit change is efected when a the rod is moved longitudinally of its axis and another circuit change is edected when the rod is turned. Switching mechanism of this type is set torth in my copending application Serial llo. 252,279, tiled February 6, le 1928. The switching mechanism disclosed in said applicationemploys a circuit controlling member which is common to the signaling and lighting circuits et an automotive vehicle, said member having an actule ating rod, which, when turned, serves to adjust the lighting circuits without altering the signaling circuit and, when pressed upon, serves to adjust the signaling circuit without adjusting the lighting circuits.

My invention has `tor its object the provision of means whereby the rod and the handle provided upon the rod may be yieldingly contined in any position to which they are turned and permitting them to be reciprocated while in any such position. ln practicing my invention, l employ a member having an arcuate row of grooves substantially coaxial with the handle or rod, said grooves extending along the axis of the handle or rod, and an additional member which is inclusive of a plunger receivable in and movable along any of said grooves and a spring pressing said plunger into any of said grooves, one of said members being stationary and the other being provided upon the handle or rod to move therewith. ln the preferred embodiment of the invention the plunger is a ball and there is a coiled spring for pressing the ball into the selected groove.

ylhe invention will be more Jfully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fi.` 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; ig. 4: is a perspective view of the handle and the grooved'member which is preferably coupled therewith; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. The switch illustrated includes a rotatable and rod are turned, these and reci rocable. rod 1 vwhose outer end is fixed wit in the hub 2 that projects upwardly from a disc 3. This disc istormed with openings 4 therethrough through which the tongues 5 of a sheet metal handle 6 are passed, these tongues being clinched against the under face o said disc, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Said disc is provided with an apron 7 which extends along the axis of the rod and handle, this apron having an arcuate row of grooves 8 therein which is substantially coaxial with the handle and rod, said grooves also extending along the rod axis. 'lhe grooved member 7 thus turns with the handle and rod and, in turning, passes over a plunger 9 which is pressed toward the member 7 by means ont the coiled spring 10, said plunger being preferably in the term of a ball. The spring is housed in a spring barrel 11 which, in turn, is housed within a stationary inverted cup 12. Said plunger serves yieldingly to hold the member 7 and the rod and handle coupled with this member in any position to which said member, handle parts being depressible while-being confined to any position to which they are turned. .tis illustrated, the handle and rod are conned, in'their turning movement, to an arc of travel. To

this end, the disc 3 is provided with a tongue 1 3 which is received wit-hin an arcuate recess 14 provided within the cylindrical wall of the stationary cup 12.

The end or top wall of the cup, through which the handle 6 and the hub portion 2 are passed, serves as an abutment which de# ines the extent to which the rod and handle may be moved upwardly. A spring pressed upon the rod longitudinally ot its axis to normally maintain the rod together with the handle thereon in the uppermost position along the axis of the rod. s set forth in my copending application, this spring is also a contact actuator and is in the form o a metallic plate 15 through which a spiral slot 16 is cut around the axis of the rod whereby the central portion of the plate constitutes a fiat spring tongue/which, by virtue of its resiliency, is normally constrained to remain within the general plane ot the plate. The 100 which is surrounded lower end which abutment structure 17 at' its presses upon `the raised portion 18 at the center of the plate 15 and b the spiral slot 16. The spring function oiy the spirally slotted portion of the plate 15 is supplemented by an upwardly spring pressed cont-act plunger 19, this plunger cooperating with the spring portion of the plate 15 in 'maintaining the tongue 13 against the end'wall of the cup 12, w en the switch is at re The abutment 17 is provided with lateral projections 20 which are received within the grooves -21 in the ring of insulation 22, this ring constituting a contact actuator. yThe plate is provided with fingers 23, 24., 25 which are clinchedinto engagement with the ring 22. When the handle 6 is turned, the ring 22 is turned to turn the plate 15 wherebysaid fingers are brought into and out of engagerod carries an ment with corresponding upwardly springl pressed contacts 26, 27, 28 and 29. The contacts 26 and 27 respectively pertain to the` tail and dim lighting circuits and cooperate with the finger 23 in controlling these circuits. The contact 28 pertains to the parking light circuit and cooperates with the finger 24 in controlling this circuit.y The contact 29 pertains to the bright light circuit and cooperates with the finger 25 in controlling this circuit. The lighting circuits as adjusted by the plate 15 are held in their adjustment by the plunger 9 and the particular groove 8 that receives this plunger. While the lighting switch is in any selected ladjustment that/is thus held by the plungerl 9, the handle and rod may be depressed to depress the central portion of the plate 15 into engagement with a horn or signaling button contact 30, the signaling circuit being thus established without disturbi-ng the adjust-ment of the lighting circuits. It is 'obvious that the adjustment of the lighting circuits may be changed without disturbing the signaling circuit. l hanges may be made without departing from the invention. r

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric` switch including arotatable .i and reciprocable contact actuating rod; a

handle upon one end of the rod; an abutment with which the handle is engageable to limit the extent to which the handle and rod are movable in one direction along the axis of the rod; a spring normally pressing the handle into engagement with said abutment; a member having an arcuate row of grooves substantially coaxial with the rod, said grooves extending along the rod; and an additional member which is inclusive of a plunger re-- ceivable in and movable along any of said grooves and a spring pressing said plunger into any of said grooves, one of said members handle upon one end of the rod; an

v pressing theextent to which the handle and rod are movable in one direction along the axis of the rod; and a spring normally pressing upon the rod to press thehandle into engagement with said abutment, the switch being inclu- -sive of complemental contact elements one of which is coupled with the rod to be turned thereby into and out of engagement with the other and through which first contact element the, spring presses upon the rod and an additional' contact positioned to be engaged b said first Contact element when the handle is moved axially. v l

3. An electric switch including a rotatable and reciprocable handle; an abutment with which the handle is engageable to limit the extent to which the handle is movable in one direction along its axis; and a spring'normally pressing the handle into engagement with said abutment, the switch being inclusive of complemental contact elements one of which is'coupled with the handle to be turned thereby into and out of engagement with the other and through which first contact element the spring presses upon the handle and an addi tional contact positioned to be engaged by said iirst contact element when the handle is moved axially.

4. An electric switch including a rotatable and rec'iprocable contact actuating rod; a abutment with which the handle is engageable to limit the extent to which the handle and rod are movable in one direction along the axis of the rod; and a spring normally pressing upon the rod to press the handle into engagement with said abutment, the switch being inclusive of complemental contact elements one of which is coupled with the rod to be turned thereby into and out of engagement with the other and through which first contact element the spring presses upon the rod.

5. An electric switch including a rotatable and reciprocable handle; an abutment with which the handle is engageable to limit the extent to which the handle is movable in one direction along its axis; and a spring normally the` handle into engagement with said abutment, the switch being inclusive of complemental contact elements one of which is coupled with the handle to be turned thereby into and out of engagement with the other and through which rst contact element the spring presses upon the handle.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY DOUGLAS. 

